194 THE TIGRIDIA. 



THE TIGRIDIA. 



This is a beautiful family, consisting of only two species 

 and two varieties. The plants are very tender, being 

 natives of Mexico ; and will not bear the least frost. They 

 need a deep, light, rich soil, free from stones. The bulbs 

 are small, but in growth throw down a fleshy tap-root to 

 a considerable distance. If the ground is not naturally 

 rich, an addition of well-rotted stable-manure will add 

 greatly to the size of the plant and the brilliancy of the 

 flower. 



The bulbs should be planted, when the ground gets warm 

 in the spring, in beds or clumps : the plants will soon ap- 

 pear, and bloom in August and September. After the frost 

 has killed the foliage, the bulbs should be taken up, thor- 

 oughly dried, and preserved in a warm, dry cellar, out of 

 the way of mice, until time for planting. 



They increase rapidly by oflsets, and also ripen seed 

 freely. 



The flowers are very brilliant, but transient, lasting only 

 one day ; but several are produced from the same stalk. 



T. pavonia. — The colors are bright scarlet, spotted with 

 yellow and brown. Introduced in 1796. 



